Throwback Thanksgiving Thursday: When flying was fun in economy class and not a nightmare.

Once upon a time, flying was fun, comfortable, and glamorous. And this was flying in coach or what we call economy class today.

Flying in coach or economy class in the 1970s.

But this all ended on Oct. 24, 1978, when President Jimmy Carter signed the Airline Deregulation Act, the airline industry changed forever, and it can be argued we’re feeling the repercussions still to this day.

All the major US airlines in the 1970s offered a bar/lounge, some with piano bars, on their new 747 service.

Unless you are flying First or Business Class today, for many people, flying is about as appealing as cleaning a toilet — and it may get worse. You are faced with a trip that is something similar to being stuck in an elevator.

The age of “Come Fly With Me Flight Attendants”…

This was before travelers suffered invasive pat-downs, folded their bodies into yoga positions to get comfortable, and paid for everything from in-flight beverages to carry-on bags.

Economy or Coach Airline travel today in what politicians call the “Greatest Country in the World!”

Just in time for the hellish experience that is Thanksgiving and Christmas travel, we’ve put together a gallery of photographs that will make you long for the earlier days of flying coach or economy class.

Travelers didn’t know how good they had it in the 20th Century.